Gossip, unfair and 'garbage'.
That's the reaction from loyal Boscombe residents and community leaders after a report in a national newspaper described the Bournemouth suburb as the “drugs capital of the south”.
Last week, The Sun published a story about Boscombe in which it gave the area the title, citing issues with street drinkers and and violence as well.
But residents of the area, which is a target for BCP Council regeneration, are keen to point out that Boscombe is not as bad as people like to think, and believe the reputation should be something different now.
Harry Seccombe, owner of Chaplin’s Bar in Christchurch Road, said Boscombe is the “dog that everyone likes to kick”, adding that any reference to Boscombe being the drugs capital of the south as “just gossip”.
Mr Seccombe added: “We’ve also got a lovely beach and a big regeneration effort going on.
“Obviously, there are drugs here. The police handle the serious end of the drugs, but you go any seaside town and there are lots of drugs.”
Boscombe East ward councillor Andy Jones described the article in The Sun as “appalling”, adding: “Time and again views like this are expressed which perpetuate the negative about Boscombe rather than all the fantastic things that it has to offer and all the volunteers working hard in the community to make it better still as a place to live, work and visit.
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One local resident believes Boscombe should be celebrated for its arts and culture. “We should be celebrating Shelley, the arts, culture and Shelley Manor.
“We could turn Boscombe into Stratford-upon-Avon if people celebrated Shelley the way people celebrate Shakespeare.
“Celebrating Shelley would do so much for tourism and culture in Boscombe.
“You go to any city and there’s a drug problem. There’s a pandemic of drug abuse across the country, it isn’t specifically any worse than here."
Resident Tim Owen-Smith said: “I’ve been here for 10 years, and of course I’ve seen people taking drugs in Boscombe. But if you go to London or Portsmouth, you’ll find there are a lot more drugs there.
"If Boscombe was to change, if would benefit from being changed ecologically. Boscombe won’t get its wealth from boats or apartments, but it should be an ecological zone with gardens and farms.”
Labour councillor for Boscombe East George Farquhar slammed The Sun for their article, describing the title as “garbage”.
He added: “The Boscombe I know is one of community, of heart, of good natured, warm and giving people.”
Major plans to transform the area including infrastructure, transport,the retail sector and housing were unveiled to the public last month.
A four-week Towns Fund consultation on the near £23 million proposals ended on Sunday.
Plans include a complete transformation of Hawkwood Road, cycling facilities on the A35 Christchurch Road, improvements to Pokesdown Station, as well as provision for more than 80 new homes.
The regeneration project is being funded by Towns Fund, a grant from central government to turbocharge the “ambitious” plans for Boscombe.
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